James W. Ellis

James W. Bill Ellis, 82, passed away Thursday, August 20, 2009 in Dumas. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, August 24, 2009 at Northlawn Memorial Gardens with his brother, Rev. Travis Ellis, a retired minister and Rev. Jerry Howe, pastor of First Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Morrison Funeral Directors. James W. Bill Ellis was born May 29, 1927 in Floyd County, Texas to Silas Hall and Gladys Maurine Ellis. He served in the US Navy from 1945 to 1946. On July 21, 1951 he married Dorothy Dot Heckman in Amarillo. He was a graduate of Wayland Baptist College in 1950 and received his masters degree in 1957 from West Texas State College. In 1967 he with four others established Growers Ag Service where he worked until his retirement in 1992. He continued to serve as a consulant with the company until 2003 He served on the board of directors of First State Bank, served 11 years on the Dumas School Board and served many years on the Moore County Fair Board. Bill also was on the board of the Texas Ag Chemical Association and was a Trustee at Wayland Baptist University for 9 years. He was a member of the Dumas Noon Lions Club. He taught the 5th grade boys Sunday School Class for 42 years and was a deacon at First Baptist Church for many years. Bill had been a resident of Dumas from 1965 until 2002 when he moved to Amarillo and was a member of Hollywood Road Community Church in Amarillo. Survivors include; his wife, Dot of the home; daughter, Cathy Hughes and husband, Terry of Amarillo; sons, Doug Ellis and wife ,Vickie of Dumas, Kirk Ellis and wife, Shari of Hereford; brothers, Travis Ellis and Bob Ellis and wife, Treva all of Amarillo; sister, Gladys Irion and husband, Weldon of Amarillo; grandchildren, Coby, Drew, Chase, Kyla, Kyle, Jeremy and Amy; great-grandchildren, Cayman, Lylah, Emory, Mabry, Brightan, Brayson, Broxon, Justin, Danny, Breanna and Brenden. The family suggests memorials be to Wayland Baptist University, PO Box 621, Plainview, TX 79072. The family will be at 603 Pear in Dumas and would like to invite friends to come by between 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM on Sunday.